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Source at Sage for detailed info on server setup for Premium

  • 1.  Source at Sage for detailed info on server setup for Premium

    Posted 03-05-2020 10:58
    I have a customer migrating from Standard to Premium where the IT department has many questions about the setup of the server including what Microsoft pre-requisites are required, how the  SQL databases are created, permissions, etc.

    I have already supplied SPM, faq on SQL, Admin guides, etc.

    They persist at insisting that they speak with someone at Sage.

    Do you know of anyone at Sage who handles a higher level type Q&A regarding this topic of server setup for SQL? 

    I'm going to just roll the dice and call Sage support and schedule a call ( I've already tried to lower the customer expectations on what that call will be like but find customers don't' believe me until they experience it ).


    ------------------------------
    Wayne Schulz - Schulz Consulting - 860-516-8990
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  • 2.  RE: Source at Sage for detailed info on server setup for Premium

    Posted 03-05-2020 11:04
    Create a list of questions to give to Sage in advance of the call.  Our general experience is that Premium specifics are not well known, and SQL even less so.  They'll need time to do research.

    ------------------------------
    Kevin Moyes
    Technical Systems Analyst
    Munjal White Consulting Co.
    Toronto ON
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Source at Sage for detailed info on server setup for Premium

    Posted 03-05-2020 12:52
    Edited by Wayne Schulz 03-05-2020 12:55
    Update:

    I called Sage because the customer essentially insisted. The call went as expected with Sage support saying "we don't set up a pre-arranged call" so just have the customer call and here let me give you a case number.

    On the subject of asking for test Premium keys

    1. Sent email to Linda Cade because my understanding is that she may be one of the few who have access to do this
    2. Called support to request keys ( my experience with Linda answering emails is poor ) - they suggested I call sales "because sales is the only one who can give keys"
    3. Call sales who suggested that I call support to get these temporary keys 
    4. Support has no clue about temporary keys ( claims they don't exist ) - blind transfers my call to Linda Cade which immediately goes to her VM


    I'm not at all surprised by this and just updating so anyone searching in the future can have a summary of what my experience was.

    ------------------------------
    Wayne Schulz - Schulz Consulting - 860-516-8990
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: Source at Sage for detailed info on server setup for Premium

    Posted 03-05-2020 14:09
    Hi Wayne,
    FYI, Sage stopped giving out Temporary keys a while back because it became a problem later.  If you get any keys out of them it will be a miracle.  You would have to own LM and GL and then they could use the 45 day trial run on remaining modules they may be interested in.

    ------------------------------
    Carmen Cruz
    Senior Specialist, Technical Consultant
    SWK Technologies Inc.
    Carmen.Cruz@SWKTech.com CA
    973-437-3984
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: Source at Sage for detailed info on server setup for Premium

    Posted 03-05-2020 14:26
    I sat with Linda Cade for breakfast and she told me that she is able to provide these keys. I think they also delivered the same message last year. It is only a couple of people at Sage who have access but they can give them out ( another member just got them ).

    ------------------------------
    Wayne Schulz - Schulz Consulting - 860-516-8990
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: Source at Sage for detailed info on server setup for Premium

    Posted 03-05-2020 14:43
    Any reason to not use your reseller NFR keys to test?

    ------------------------------
    Kevin Moyes
    Technical Systems Analyst
    Munjal White Consulting Co.
    Toronto ON
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: Source at Sage for detailed info on server setup for Premium

    Posted 03-05-2020 15:05
    That's one option however I don't like to do that because in some cases - like if the customer canceled the project - my keys would be in the system but I have no way to remove them. I have done this though usually on an emergency basis.

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    Wayne Schulz - Schulz Consulting - 860-516-8990
    ------------------------------



  • 8.  RE: Source at Sage for detailed info on server setup for Premium

    Posted 03-05-2020 15:49
    Just a few weeks ago I was told you can Order Test Premium keys... 

    You did NOT get this info from me ;) 


    If a customer or partner needs a test copy of the Premium edition of Sage 100 for some reason … there is a trial SKU …

     

    G9QPREMTRIAL

     

    That can be ordered plus any addons such as payroll, timecard, etc. which allows them to test the new platform for 180 days before they go live.  It can co-exist with their current license without conflict in their i-base record.

     



    ------------------------------
    Michelle Forsey
    Eide Bailly, Inc.
    801-456-5470
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  • 9.  RE: Source at Sage for detailed info on server setup for Premium

    Posted 03-05-2020 16:14
    Why am I not surprised that they lied to the support team when I was with Sage.

    ------------------------------
    Carmen Cruz
    Senior Specialist, Technical Consultant
    SWK Technologies Inc.
    Carmen.Cruz@SWKTech.com CA
    973-437-3984
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: Source at Sage for detailed info on server setup for Premium

    Posted 03-05-2020 17:08
    From what I can tell, the right hand doesn't even know that the left hand exists... let alone knowing what it is doing.
    (I'm really hoping Terrence follows through after his "Broken" admission at MOTM).

    ------------------------------
    Kevin Moyes
    Technical Systems Analyst
    Munjal White Consulting Co.
    Toronto ON
    ------------------------------



  • 11.  RE: Source at Sage for detailed info on server setup for Premium

    Posted 03-05-2020 17:18
    "I'm really hoping Terrence follows through after his "Broken" admission at MOTM"...my breath I will not be holding...I asked Terrence a couple of questions around some renewal-related issues and emails and was immediately told "Talk to Timothy about that"..so "Yes, it's broken, but it's not MY problem"

    ------------------------------
    Phil McIntosh
    President
    Friendly Systems, Inc.
    Asheville NC
    678.273.4010 ext 5
    ------------------------------



  • 12.  RE: Source at Sage for detailed info on server setup for Premium

    Posted 03-05-2020 17:29
    I'm not holding my breath either because: Sage.
    Hoping though.

    ------------------------------
    Kevin Moyes
    Technical Systems Analyst
    Munjal White Consulting Co.
    Toronto ON
    ------------------------------



  • 13.  RE: Source at Sage for detailed info on server setup for Premium

    Posted 03-05-2020 20:08

    Wishing and hoping and thinking and praying,
    Planning and dreaming each day of the fix,
    That gives us more than just kicks.



    ------------------------------
    Karen O'Lane
    Accounting Systems, Inc. (ASI)
    Fresno CA
    803.252.6154 x242
    559.577.4142
    90Minds Board Member at Large
    ------------------------------



  • 14.  RE: Source at Sage for detailed info on server setup for Premium

    Posted 03-05-2020 21:50
    Edited by Jeff Schwenk 03-07-2020 07:40
    @Karen O'Lane - A great karaoke cover!!!​  Go Go Dusty!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDKRKluMjSE

    What is it that @Wayne Schulz says - Wash, rinse, repeat.  Seems like this has been said for five years or so at the MOTM conference.  I believe it was at the first or second conference at the downtown Embassy that Mike Ritchie(?) said the same thing to a hostile crowd.  So what HAS changed at Sage over the past five years?  Different actors repeating the same lines.

    Kinda reminds me of the old lawyer joke - How do you know when a lawyer is lying?  His lips are moving........

    Maybe this time......

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMpSQV1-bsA





    ------------------------------
    Jeff Schwenk
    FORMER 90M Board Member
    Bottomline Software, Inc.
    Waynesboro VA
    540-221-4444
    ------------------------------



  • 15.  RE: Source at Sage for detailed info on server setup for Premium

    Posted 03-09-2020 15:08
    Here's the list of items that this customer's IT department is looking for -- does anyone have some or all of this? 

    - Product architecture diagram 
    - Windows 2019 additional components required ( prerequisite files - .NET, IIS, etc)
    - Network/firewall requirements ( I advised they should review SPM )
    - Database requirements ( I advised they review SPM )


    ------------------------------
    Wayne Schulz - Schulz Consulting - 860-516-8990
    ------------------------------



  • 16.  RE: Source at Sage for detailed info on server setup for Premium

    Posted 03-09-2020 15:26
    Product architecture... good luck with that.  It varies depending on what features you use (PR, StarShip, SI...) and strategy (with SQL on Sage server or separate), with some critical settings still stored outside of SQL (providex.dde, providex.ddf...).
    Done properly, the installer "should" take care of everything.
    Open the Sage and SQL ports for internal access.  If you have more than one SQL instance, adding a firewall rule for the program (vs port) is necessary. 
    DB requirements are not all in the SPM (reference my recent post about SQL Collation method), with some undocumented issues (eg. error during install if the Model system database is set too small).

    ------------------------------
    Kevin Moyes
    Technical Systems Analyst
    Munjal White Consulting Co.
    Toronto ON
    ------------------------------



  • 17.  RE: Source at Sage for detailed info on server setup for Premium

    Posted 03-11-2020 05:47
    Of course this customer called Sage on their own. We spent twenty minutes talking about how disappointed they were in not being able to reach anyone who provided meaningful info.

    No matter how much I try to prep a customer about this outcome - they never ( ever ) believe me. Until they try calling on their own.

    Every last one thinks I lie about the difficulties obtaining info.

    This literally happens over and over with nearly the same outcome after they call on their own.



    ---------------------------------
    Wayne Schulz - Schulz Consulting - 860-516-8990
    ---------------------------------





  • 18.  RE: Source at Sage for detailed info on server setup for Premium

    Posted 03-11-2020 10:20
    You should have been at my class. We went over all this stuff.  You are NOT going to get this kind of detailed information from Sage.  Sounds like this IT knows nothing about SQL Server.  He wants you to explain to him how to be a DBA in SQL.

    As for Microsoft Updates

    Microsoft Redistributables:
    1. Versions 2005 thru 2017 both (86) and (64) versions
    2. Must be installed in order
    3. Most servers will only have a few.  I generally uninstall what Microsoft gives me and install all versions since I have them


    From Microsoft Features
    1. Turn on .Net 3.5
    2. If .Net 4.8 is there the OS is current
    3. If not they need to install 4.7 and 4.8 if not already there

    For Sage
    1. Install SQL Server
      1. Documentation in MOTM 2020 - Detailed
    2. Install Sage Premium
      1. Documentation in MOTM 2020 - Detailed
    3. During installation Sage is pointed to the instance of Microsoft SQL Server that was installed
    4. If creates databases - define the structure to them (i.e. MAS_SYSTEM)
    5. SQL users created MAS_USER and MAS_REPORTS
      1. First one gets them access to Sage 
      2. Second one allows printing of the Reports
        1. These accounts can NOT be altered in anyway
    6. They need a powerful server if they want Sage 100 Premium to perform
      1. If they are heavy users they should NOT be on Premium


    ------------------------------
    Carmen Cruz
    Senior Specialist, Technical Consultant
    SWK Technologies Inc.
    Carmen.Cruz@SWKTech.com CA
    973-437-3984
    ------------------------------



  • 19.  RE: Source at Sage for detailed info on server setup for Premium

    Posted 03-11-2020 10:23
    The only person at Sage who is a master at installing and troubleshooting Premium is me and yeah I am here not there..  You can ask for Nathan Shaw but they will not provide full on Specs to the process.

    ------------------------------
    Carmen Cruz
    Senior Specialist, Technical Consultant
    SWK Technologies Inc.
    Carmen.Cruz@SWKTech.com CA
    973-437-3984
    ------------------------------



  • 20.  RE: Source at Sage for detailed info on server setup for Premium

    Posted 03-11-2020 11:10
    Thanks this is helpful - Sage really needs one technical document which is updated quarterly to answer these questions. Not every Premium site is going to have IT meet us at the door with a sticky note that has the SA and Domain Administrator password. These folks I'm working on now are VERY sophisticated.

    I would add to your "f they are heavy users they should NOT be on Premium" ---  this is probably true if they are purely focused on speed of screen and navigation.

    However, I've run into several instances where SQL was mandated:

    1. Security - goodbye copy/paste of the MAS_XXX to remove or modify the data files
    2. Speed of external reporting ( this is usually the reason people are moving )
    3. IT demand to centralize their use of backups, etc

    This what I had been using up until now and it was based on the questions a relatively unsophisticated customer had asked ( and failed to get answers from Sage for). Most of the info is summarized from 90 Minds. I have such a hard time getting through to anyone at Sage who can provide helpful info. 

    https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_y2wlmQSZGVtew4zVctpQKZKnQX0kl-lcTWUZ8UdIKM/edit?usp=sharing

    IT would be helpful to create one document to hand out to customers



    ------------------------------
    Wayne Schulz - Schulz Consulting - 860-516-8990
    ------------------------------



  • 21.  RE: Source at Sage for detailed info on server setup for Premium

    Posted 03-11-2020 11:26
    Sad that Sage is not going to have any strong analyst for several years and that's a maybe.  I think that is why they are doing what they are doing with their plan where the client pays one price and then it gets boosted the following year which of course will result in the clients coming straight to us.  That is pretty much the only way they are going to get real help is from all us Veterans of Sage.  The few that remain do not even touch Premium.  When I was there all they knew was Standard because none of them would install the other versions.  Me, well I have to know all... LOL and experimented and got heavily involved with installation, migrations conversions.    If you run into any questions you know how to find me. :)

    ------------------------------
    Carmen Cruz
    Senior Specialist, Technical Consultant
    SWK Technologies Inc.
    Carmen.Cruz@SWKTech.com CA
    973-437-3984
    ------------------------------